Chapter:14 It's delicious

"You'll see, this place isn't too bad. We get to play a lot!" Keigo grinned, his wings fluttering slightly. Itachi, however, nodded quietly, feeling indifferent. While the other children eagerly embraced the idea of playing, Itachi was less than enthusiastic. To him, it felt like a waste of time—meaningless, childish games that had no purpose beyond distraction.

The day progressed with various activities: coloring, playing with blocks, and outdoor games. Keigo, full of energy, clung to Itachi the entire time, urging him to participate. "Come on, Itachi! Let's build the biggest tower!" Keigo called out, practically dragging Itachi to the block area.

Itachi sighed internally. He would have much preferred to sit quietly and observe, but Keigo's persistence left him with little choice. Begrudgingly, he stacked a few blocks, his mind elsewhere. I don't belong here, Itachi thought, his patience wearing thin. He had no interest in playing or pretending. His past life, filled with duty and sacrifice, made these activities feel trivial.

During snack time, Keigo leaned over, whispering excitedly, "We're gonna be the coolest in this place! You've got the eye quirk, and I can fly!" His wings fluttered proudly, drawing the attention of their classmates.

Itachi, sipping his juice in silence, kept his thoughts to himself. Cool? The concept seemed pointless to him. But Keigo, oblivious to Itachi's disinterest, continued to chatter on. Keigo's optimism was almost overwhelming, and although Itachi didn't share the same excitement, he remained composed.

When outdoor play began, Keigo grabbed Itachi's hand, pulling him along toward the playground. "Come on! Let's race!" Keigo urged, his enthusiasm showing no signs of slowing down.

Itachi signed slightly but followed, knowing resistance would only lead to more pushing. He half-heartedly joined in, running just fast enough to keep pace but never fully engaging. To Itachi, the day dragged on, each activity a reminder of how much he'd rather be doing something else—something meaningful.

When the final bell rang, signaling the end of the day, Keigo waved dramatically, his wings fluttering in excitement. "See you tomorrow, Itachi! We'll have even more fun!"

Itachi stood at the school gate, watching Keigo wave goodbye, his energy as unrelenting as ever. Itachi nodded, his expression neutral, and raised a hand in a polite but detached gesture.

"Sure," he said quietly, his tone devoid of the warmth Keigo seemed to radiate.

As Itachi made his way to the waiting car, the door closed behind him, and the vehicle started moving toward home. The chatter and chaos of the day faded away, leaving Itachi with his thoughts. It's only temporary, he reminded himself, staring out the window. I'll endure it.

As Itachi stepped into the mansion, he immediately noticed his mother, Yana, sitting on the sofa, her face lighting up with a warm smile the moment she saw him. She stood up and gently walked over to him, her eyes full of curiosity.

"Itachi, welcome home," she greeted softly, placing a hand on his shoulder. "How was school today?"

Itachi, keeping his usual calm demeanor, responded with a short, "Normal."

Yana raised an eyebrow, not entirely satisfied with his brief answer but knowing her son well enough not to press too hard. Before she could ask more, Erika came into the room, a light-hearted smile on her face.

"Itachi! How was your day?" she asked, leaning in slightly, her expression eager.

Itachi looked between his mother and Erika, his calmness unwavering. "As I said, normal."

Yana, still smiling, decided to push just a little. "Did you make any friends, dear?"

Itachi paused, thinking about Keigo's energetic face and the boy's insistence on being friends. A small sigh escaped his lips as he considered how to phrase it. "Not exactly a friend," he began, his tone carrying a hint of amusement, "but there's someone who will probably annoy me in the future."

Yana couldn't help but chuckle at the way he phrased it. "Oh? And who might this future annoyance be?"

"His name is Keigo Takami," Itachi replied, a faint smile tugging at the corner of his lips. "He's... persistent, to say the least."

Erika grinned at this, her curiosity piqued. "Persistent, huh? Sounds like someone who wants to be your friend, Itachi."

Itachi shrugged slightly. "Perhaps."

Yana, noticing the rare smile on her son's face, couldn't help but feel a sense of pride and warmth. Erika also saw it and she said with a playful wink "Well, it's good to see you're connecting with someone, even if you find him a little… persistent."

"Just remember, having someone around, even if they seem like an annoyance, can sometimes turn out to be a blessing," Yana added, her voice soft but meaningful.

Itachi considered his mother's words for a moment, his expression growing more thoughtful. Keigo's energy was different… almost refreshing. Maybe she's right.

He nodded, not saying anything more, but Yana and Erika could tell that the day had affected him in ways he wasn't quite ready to express yet.

Itachi went to his room, changed into more comfortable clothes, and made his way back downstairs to the dining room. As he sat at the table, his mind was still on the day he spent with Keigo and how it felt to experience the normality of a child's life, something he rarely allowed himself to dwell on.

Moments later, his mother, Yana, walked in with a soft smile. "Tonight's dinner is quite special," she said warmly, placing a dish in front of him. "I made it just for you."

Itachi raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "What is it?"

Yana moved her hand away, revealing a plate of dango, perfectly arranged. Itachi's eyes widened slightly, a rare reaction from him. "Dango?" he asked, surprised. He hadn't expected something so thoughtful. She knows this is my favorite.

"I know you like sweets, Itachi," Yana said with a smile, "and dango has always been your favorite."

A small, genuine smile tugged at Itachi's lips, and he nodded. "Thank you, Mother."

He picked up two pieces, savoring the familiar sweetness, but as he reached for another, he paused. I need to watch my intake... especially with the training I started today.

"It's delicious," he said, putting down his chopsticks, "but that's enough for me."

Yana raised an eyebrow, her expression playful yet firm. "Itachi, boys your age should eat plenty. You need the energy."